Dharmendra Pradhan asks CM Odisha for assistance in 2G ethanol plant

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik seeking his intervention for immediate handing over of the land for the setting up of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.'s (BPCL) 2G ethanol plant in Bargarh, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said.

The Oil Minister has asked for the assistance as the delay in land allocation has held up the progress of work and is adversely affecting the project.

BPCL had requested the State Government of Odisha through Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL) for allocation of land for the 2G ethanol plant in November 2016.

"Even after elapse of almost of one year, the land allotment for the project has not been done," the Ministry said.

With the setting up of this bio-refinery, there will be an increase in the overall economic activity in the surrounding area and employment opportunities will also be created for the locals. This bio-refinery will also necessitate setting up of around 10 decentralized biomass collection depots in a radius of 50km.

"While ethanol produced from this bio-refinery will supplement the EBP Programme promoted by Government of India, bio-manure will get consumed in the nearby areas thereby improving the soil fertility," the official release said.

This venture will provide an opportunity for rural entrepreneurs to generate direct and indirect employment for 800- 1000 people thereby generating additional income of Rs. 10- 12 crores per annum, the release added.

Oil Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have earlier decided to set up 12 Second Generation (2G) Ethanol bio-refineries in the country to implement the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme of the Government of India.

The programme aims to promote the use of alternative and environment-friendly fuels. It also sought to reduce import dependency for energy requirements and provide the necessary boost to the agriculture sector.